Summer 2014 Reading Challenge

So I’ve been doing the Summer 2014 Reading Challenge for a month now and have accumulated 35 points! Here is my updated list of books showing what has been read and what is waiting to be read.

My original post is also here so you can see how well I am sticking to my initial list of books!

I think I might revise my list this month as there are some other books I would like to read first, also one of my books is over 700 pages long and we have to read a book with a minimum of 200 pages so that’s almost the equivalent of 4 books! To be able to achieve the target I think I’ll wait to read that one.

Here’s my progress so far though:

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that is at least 200 pages long.
The Hundred Year Old Man who climbed out of the window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson (400 pages)

BEGAN READING: 21/05/14 FINISHED READING still reading
POINTS ACQUIRED TBC

10 points: Read a book that was written before you were born.
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (336 pages)

10 points: Finish reading a book you couldn’t finish the first time around. (You must have at least 150 pages left in the book to use it for this category.)
The Monuments Men by Robert M Edsel – I like to try and read the book before watching the film but couldn’t get into the book and really wanted to see the film. Hopefully now I’ve seen the film I can finish the book! (512 pages)

10 points: Read a book from the children’s section of the library or bookstore.
The Mortal Instruments 6: City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare – hopefully a Young Adult Book will count as I have been waiting for this book to be released (it’s out on 28 May so perfect timing). (753 pages)

15 points: Read a book that is on The New York Times’ Best Sellers List when you begin reading it.
I’ve got you under my skin by Mary Higgins Clark – I love a good crime thriller so this seems pretty good for me. (320 pages)

15 points: Read a historical fiction book that does not take place in Europe.
Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown (336 pages)

15 points: Read a book another blogger has already read for the challenge.
To be confirmed!

20 points: Read a book with “son(s),” “daughter(s)” or “child(ren)” in the title.
Thursday’s Children by Nicci French (432 pages)

20 points: Read a book that was/will be adapted to film in 2014.
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn – I have this book on my Kindle ready to read so it’s the perfect excuse to give it a go now! (368 pages)

BEGAN READING: 04/05/2014 FINISHED READING: 10/05/2014
20 POINTS ACQUIRED

25 points: Read a book written by a blogger.
Dead Blow by G.m. Barlean (250 pages)

25 points: Read a biography, autobiography or memoir.
Is it just me by Miranda Hart (337 pages)

30 points: Read a pair of books with antonyms in the titles.
A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby (276 pages) and Up Close by Henriette Gyland (356 pages)

A Long Way Down: BEGAN READING: 10/05/14 FINISHED READING: 21/05/14
POINTS ACQUIRED: 15

I love a good challenge and also love reading so when I saw that Megan of Semi-Charmed Kind of Life had planned a reading challenge for the summer I couldn’t resist taking a look before deciding to have a go.

My taste in books is quite varied really and I am participating in the Goodreads Reading Challenge for 2014 (I’ve managed to read 12 and a half of the 45 I have challenged myself to so far!) but I had to finish reading my current book (The Husbands Secret by Liane Moriarty which is very good with lots of twists and turns making it a real page turner) first which gave me time to think about what I will read.

General rules:
♦ The challenge will run from May 1, 2014, to August 31, 2014. No books that are started before 12 a.m. on May 1 or finished after 11:59 p.m. on August 31 will count.
♦ Each book must be at least 200 pages long. Audiobooks are fine, as long as the print versions meet the page requirements. Large-print books are also acceptable, as long as the regular-print version exceeds 200 pages in length.
♦ A book can only be used for one category, and each category can only be completed once. If you want to switch the category of a book during a later check-in, that’s fine, just be sure to account for that in your point total.
♦ Rereads can be used for a maximum of three books in the challenge. This rule is meant to encourage you to try new books while still allowing you to revisit books from your childhood or young adulthood that you might get more out of now. Please reread the entire book within the timeframe of the challenge in order to count it; no simply finishing old books or partial rereads (unless the category explicitly states otherwise, of course)!
♦ The highest possible total is 200 points, and the first five people who finish the challenge will win a featured/guest post on Semi-Charmed Kind of Life and be invited to contribute a category for the winter challenge. Good luck!

Here is my initial choice of books for the challenge categories!